My rears are upside down :(

2641 Views 19 Replies 11 Participants Last post by loufish, Oct 12, 2007

BBtruck

Discussion Starter · Oct 5, 2007 (Edited)

My Bilsteins are installed in the rear with both boots facing down. It took all of 20 minutes to figure out that the mounting bushings can only go in one way, 15 minutes install and thinkin' WTF... Is F4-BE5-B625-HO the right stock number for a '05 rwd XE?

I even thought of pressing the bushings out and reversing them...but I had to let that go due to the fear of really jackin' that up.

Other than the upsided boots looking stupid, will durability be an issue? Could I actually be able to reverse the bushings with a press? j/k maybe?

I still have to do the fronts. Yes I have the proper tools and safety equipment.:lookaroun Anything else I should know about doing the front, like adding washers, bolts, nuts, or sacrifice a small animal to the Nissan Gods...?

Man, my first mod on my baby does not look good...

L

1 - 20 of 20 Posts

AF-Medic

· #2 · Oct 5, 2007 (Edited)

If I'm not mistaken, they can be installed either way and will work the same with boots up or down. If you dont like the way they look, take them off and rotate them, should be easy. Someone willk chime in but I'm pretty sure you can install them either way.

ArmyAviation

· #3 · Oct 5, 2007

Shouldnt the boots be installed facing up? Most shocks are installed with the boots up, plus if boots down they will get damaged.

37L1

· #4 · Oct 5, 2007

They can be installed either way.

When doing the fronts be sure and deal with the sway bar first for a less stressful install.

bbomar

· #5 · Oct 5, 2007

What he said!^^^^^^^^^^^:tongue:

Just finished doing mine, so if you have any questions.

RobKar

· #6 · Oct 5, 2007

bbomar said:
What he said!^^^^^^^^^^^:tongue:

Just finished doing mine, so if you have any questions.

Did the ride improve? ... I am looking at doing mine now 40K miles. I only see a problem when towing down a bumpy freeway.

BBtruck

Discussion Starter · #7 · Oct 5, 2007

AF-Medic-No way can they be flip-flop. The bushing on each end of the shock have a different thickness, which could only be mounted one way.

Ecmeyla-our thoughts are tracking...

37l1-Yes, I found out they can.:jester: Thanks for the heads up on the sway.

bbomar- Thanks, I will take you on that if I run into any problem.

Other than the formentioned problem, the ride over bumps is awesome back there. No noise, rattles, and nothing draggin' thank God. I'll be doing the fronts later on tonight.

L

bbomar

· #8 · Oct 5, 2007

BBtruck said:
AF-Medic-No way can they be flip-flop. The bushing on each end of the shock have a different thickness, which could only be mounted one way.

Ecmeyla-our thoughts are tracking...

37l1-Yes, I found out they can.:jester: Thanks for the heads up on the sway.

bbomar- Thanks, I will take you on that if I run into any problem.

Other than the formentioned problem, the ride over bumps is awesome back there. No noise, rattles, and nothing draggin' thank God. I'll be doing the fronts later on tonight.

L

Better get started soon..............

It will take you a while!!!!!!:hat:

bbomar

· #9 · Oct 5, 2007

RobKar said:
Did the ride improve? ... I am looking at doing mine now 40K miles. I only see a problem when towing down a bumpy freeway.

Robkar, yes it improves the ride alot.
In the rear i had sort of a bouncy ride, and it took care of that.
In the front, whenI would hit a speed bump, it would hit hard.
Now the take those same bumps very smoothly, and yet still a firm ride.

AF-Medic

· #10 · Oct 6, 2007

I said the same thing as 37 LI, He's right and I'm wrong, I dont get it.

bbomar

· #11 · Oct 6, 2007

AF-Medic said:
I said the same thing as 37 LI, He's right and I'm wrong, I dont get it.

I don't he understood AF, and yes any shock can be installed upside down.
The Bilstein's he got are installed upside down, And i think it's to keep dirt from be forced down into the shock. :dunno:

BBtruck

Discussion Starter · #12 · Oct 6, 2007 (Edited)

Sorry AF, yes, they could go either way, but what I was trying to say was that the bushings determined which way their are mounted to the frame and axle.
In my particular situation the smaller bushings are located at the bottom of the body of the shock which could only be mounted to the smaller opening located on the frame. The axle itself have the larger openings. That's the reason they cannot be reversed.

I've verified that the stock # is correct. I'm still worried about durability not fuction. They still look stupid upside down.

bbomar, your last comment makes sense about the dirt, thanks.

I still wish I could rotate those bushings...

L

Titan5683

· #13 · Oct 6, 2007 (Edited)

I was always told that having the shock flipped over is better because the suspension can move that part of the shock quicker due to less unsprung weight. I always ran my shocks that way on my ranger prerunners and so do alot of trophy trucks/off-road race teams.

Digi

· #14 · Oct 6, 2007

Exactly. I just upgraded to the Bilsteins front and rear and I feel like I'm driving someone else's truck. Very smooth, braking/accelerating dive/pitch is gone. The ride is very tight now.

My dealer did the install and I spoke to the tech after and he said the shocks only mount one way due to the size of the top and bottom mounts. Quite normal actually. I think folks are used to seeing the Rancho Offroad package, which is reversed. But if you look on most custom suspension kits (image below -coilovers, duals, etc.), you'll see that the rods are in the downward position. You cold remove the boot, but that provides a little added protection.

If you're keeping stock height, run, don't walk to replace your shocks with these. I did it at 25K and it's worth it in spades. :thumbsup:

Titan5683 said:
I was always told that having the shock flipped over is better because the suspension can move that part of the shock quicker due to less unsprung weight. I always ran my shocks that way on my ranger prerunners and so do alot of trophy trucks/off-road race teams.

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BBtruck

Discussion Starter · #15 · Oct 7, 2007 (Edited)

Wow...:rockon Thanks cats for the upside down moral support...That is some ubercool shocks...wow. So yours are upside down too? I have read and seen pics with one up one down, both up, never both down...

I guess I'll just check every once on a while for ripped boots.

Wonder how they reach the fuel filler?...lol

L

jaho1979

· #16 · Oct 7, 2007

Not sure about the Bilstiens, but my rear DR's only went in one way...boot down. It doesn't matter which they are installed on the rear shocks.

loufish

· #17 · Oct 7, 2007

I was always told that having the shock flipped over is better because the suspension can move that part of the shock quicker due to less unsprung weight. I always ran my shocks that way on my ranger prerunners and so do alot of trophy trucks/off-road race teams.

We have a winner! :rockon

Somebody mentioned you could run any shock upside down...Not true!...Hi pressure gas shocks can be run whichever way, but normal twin-tube shocks including those with an internal gas bag or cell still need to run conventional style, body down.

BBtruck

Discussion Starter · #18 · Oct 7, 2007

Did the fronts last night. Took me 2 hours due to not having power tool and poor muscle tone. Those springs needed alot of force to compress. With the proper tools I would say it could be done in a hour tops.

Went for a test drive and it was awesome. Smooth, damped, firmed but not jarring, and feels like have a whole new suspension. Bumps that used to bottom out the truck are now no more than a slight bump.

Cats, if you still have the OEM setup your missing out on some good riding. It's not hard at all to do it yourself in the driveway, some power tools would make it alot easier.

Very happy with my first mod.

Thanks for the encouragement brothers.:rockon

L

Delta15

· #19 · Oct 11, 2007

loufish said:
We have a winner! :rockon

Somebody mentioned you could run any shock upside down...Not true!...Hi pressure gas shocks can be run whichever way, but normal twin-tube shocks including those with an internal gas bag or cell still need to run conventional style, body down.

Ive heard the same Nitrogen charged can be run either way but emulsion can only be run one way

loufish

· #20 · Oct 12, 2007

Ive heard the same Nitrogen charged can be run either way but emulsion can only be run one way

Many shocks are nitrogen charged emulsion shocks, keeps the cost down, but still need to be run in the correct position.
Nitrogen shocks with a internal floating piston, or external resevoir can be run any way...The DR's for the rear get installed "upside" down because of the bushings, but they're like Bilsteins and have the internal floating piston and could work either way.

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